PTH Biography.
Ross Wakefield and Toby Vane (as they’re known to the taxman) harnessed their shared influences, ranging from Public Enemy and Joe Cocker to Elbow and Nick Drake, and began to create their own unique supersonic sound. They invited selected friends and musicians to bring more of a live element to their recordings, including newcomers Jono McCleery (Music Weeks ‘Best Unsigned Act of 2005’), Lucy Kitchen, Bridgette Amofah (Oi Va Voi), Pete Simpson (Elektrons), BBC Jazz award winner and Ronnie Scotts’ fave Liane Carroll (London Elektricity) and Laura Vane (MJ Cole, Vipertones).
2006 saw the duo release their debut recording, the ‘Realise’ EP, earning them global critical acclaim, and radio rotation from Zane Lowe, Mr Scruff, Ras Kwame, and Benji B, amongst others. Indeed, Gilles Peterson became the duo’s number one champion, inviting them to record a live session at Maida Vale Studios. By the end of the year the Heroes had landed themselves two nominations at the BBC Worldwide Awards and things were starting to hot up!
The Part-Time Heroes’ sound has often been compared to scene defining stalwarts like Koop, Zero 7 and Cinematic Orchestra, and their debut LP “Meanwhile…” continued that legacy, pushing forward with a unique refreshingly, wholesome and honest style, complete with live instrumentation, deep jazz roots, folksy flourishes and organic, soul nourishing goodness.
The last two years has seen them tour all over the UK, Europe and Japan (including the prestigious Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival) with their Live and DJ/Sndsystm Sets. May 09 saw the release of ‘Meanwhile…The Remixes’, featuring a wealth of remixing talent from the likes of Marbert Rocel, Feature Cast, Boom Clap Bachelors, Unforscene, The Nextmen and Feature Cast to name a few.
Currently in the studio penning the much anticipated follow up to ‘Meanwhile…’, they continue to gain support and leave a mark wherever they tread. Their monthly Radio Show/Podcast continues to flourish with a worldwide listenership in excess of ten thousand and the new LP set to drop mid 2011.
QUOTES:
"Love the new album. Brilliant...the next generation of jazz!! A classic." _Gilles Peterson (Radio 1)
"Realise is quite beautiful... ones to watch". _4/5 iDJ Magazine
"This album is CLASS!". _Michael Ruetten (Compost Radio)
"The Duo may have to change the part-time to full-time". _4/5 DJ Magazine
"A cinematic up-tempo jazz number". _4/5 One Week To Live Magazine
"This is neo-soulful nu-jazz with some great vocals!". _Fly.co.uk
"Down right addictive mixture of jazz, funk and fusion sounds". _Subbacutcha
"Really into their sound"._Benji B (BBC 1Xtra)
"Record of the week". _Piccadilly Records
"A summery blast of addictive dance floor funk". _iDJ Magazine
"Great 12 with two very solidly produced tracks. I can see this being in the box for a while" _Kev Beadle (Solar Radio)
"Like Koop if they were fronted by a soul singer". _iDJ Magazine
"Loved the tracks, it's really inspired me, and makes me feel like there's good sh*t out there and I've got to keep reaching. Thank you." _Monday Michiru
"Amazing jazz. It is pure class and the production is impressive. Liane Carroll vocal goes straight to my heart. Half way through the track it explodes into a soulful jazz tornado. 4 Hero eat your socks!" _Eivind Olsvik (Hi-Fi Terapi)
"There is nothing really 'part time' about these heroes... at last, a truly fresh ever evolving sound, the potential here is enormous." _Frank Sono (Moulin-X)
"One of the best albums of '08. Deep, honest and uplifting. Miss it at your peril." _Positive Flow

HIDEOUT SESSIONS PODCAST- SUBSCRIBE FREE HERE: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/part-time-heroes-the-hideout/id426572104